Grading level



May 12', 1 931.

R. e. NEWSOME v 1,805,004

GRADING LEVEL Filed June 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwwmtoz Fa Zp/v mzasome May 12, 1931. R. G. NEWSOME GRADING LEVEL Filed June 22; 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwue/ntoz fFaZp/v 61 jv'ewsome,

Patented May 12, 1%31 RALPH G. nnwsoma, or nnwroar 'unws, vrns nm GRADING LEVEL 7 Application filed June 22,

-' .5 different points or any rise or fall between spaced points may be readilyiand accurately obtained. v

A further object is to provide a single instrument or unit capable of selective use with speed and accuracy for obtaining a desired percent of fall or rise. between spaced points, to determine the percent of existing rise or fall between spaced points, or to obtain a level line between distant points. v Still another object is to provide novel means for furnishing the ends of the bubble tube holder of the level with sight pieces, whereby when a horizontalor inclined line is attained, such line can be extended indefinitely. r e

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in 'the' novel form, combination and arrangescribe'd, shown in the ac ings and claimed;

In the drawings: 1 Figure. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a grading level embodying the present invention, partly vbroken away and in section. i Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construccompanying drawtion' shown in Figure 1. v

"Figure 3 is a transverse line 3-3 of Figure 1. I Figure 4 is a similar view on line 4- 4 of Figure 1; a

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the sight pieces; and a Figure 6 is a view of the level drawn on a smaller scale and showing the spirit level proper adjusted at an angle to the stock or straight edge as practiced in certain uses of thelevel. Y 1 Referring more in detail to the drawings, the present grading level embodies a spirit level proper consisting of an elongated me tallic holder. 5 in whichis suitably mounted an elongatedtransparent bubble tube-6 havvertical section on ment of parts hereinafter more fully de-' tion to the base bar 12 without any danger of 1928. Serial No. 287,488.

the-bubble tube 6 being firmly retained in the upper portion of the hollow. body of the V holder 5 by means of closure plates 10 applied and suitably fastened to the open under side of said body of the holder at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the latter. As shown, a yieldablecushion 11 may be. interposed between each end of the bubble tube 6 and the adjacent closure plate 10, whereby said bubble tube is firmly but yieldablyheld in'plac. The top wall of-the body offthe ho1der'5 is preferably of longitudinallyarcli ed or'upwardly curved form, whilethe bubble "tube 6 is of similar arcuate form, the curva- 'ture and the arrangement of the graduations '7 being such that thepercentage of elevation can be determined by the position of the bubble with respect to said graduations.

The level further embodies an elongated base plate or bar 12 arranged with itslongi: tudinal axis. parallel with the longitudinal axis ofthlmlder 5 andtube 6, and provided intermediate its endswith apair of spaced upstanding ears.13 between whichthe bubble tube holder 5 is suitablypivoted as at 14: upon a transversehorizontal axis and intermediate its ends for longitudinal swinging or tilting adjustment relative to the'ba'se'bar or plate 12; Upright adjusting screws 15 are adjustably threaded through the opposite solid end portion] 9 "of 't-heholder5, and these-adjusting screws'areadapt'ed tobear at their lower ends upon the upper surface of v the base bar 12 ;at opposite sides of the; pivot '14. Itis thus apparent that by relatively adjustingthe screws 15" in opposite directions,

the spirit level proper may be accurately" tilt'ably adjusted in any desired angular rela-v v,

accidental loss of such adjustment. The holder and base bar are preferably made of' lightmetal, and it is thus apparent that the construction described will be extremely 7 simple anddurable as well as light in weight. ma i The base bar 12 has a fiat bottom surface and is longer than the holder 5 so as to project at its ends beyond the ends of the latter. These projecting ends of the base bar 12 are provided with suitable openings to receive screws 16 or other like fastening elements,

' indicated at 20. Except for the character of the sighting means, these two sight pieces are similar in construction, consisting in general of a fiat vertically elongated plate provided at its lower end with a pair of spaced trans verse horizontal flanges 21 disposed one above the other, and provided in its lower end with an opening 22 between the flanges 21. In practice, the sight pieces are secured at their ower en'ds against the opposite ends of the bubble tube holder 5 by means of stud screws 23 passing through the openings 22 and threaded into sockets provided in the ends .of the end portions 9 of the bubble tube holder 5 as clearly shown in Figure 1 the flanges 21 respectively engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the end portions 9 to maintain the sight pieces vertically disposed or against turning relative to the holder 5 about the screws In this way the sight pieces are readily and-firmly attached although of extremely simple and durable construction. As illustrated, the frontsight piece 19 is provided in its upper end'portion with an aperture of relatively small size forming a peep hole 24, and the rear'sight piece has a vertically elongated slotin its upper end portion as at 25, said slot being laterally enlarged near its upper end as at 26 and having a horizontal or transverse sighting wire 27 mounted inthis'enlarged portion of the slot. v In setting the level for use, it is placed on the two points to be levelled and the position of the bubble in the tube 6 is noted, after which the level is reversed end for end and the position of the bubble again noted. By means of the thumb screws 15, the bubble is then brought to 'e'Xactlyha-lf way between the two marks or graduations at which the bubblewas thus noted, whereupon the level is ready for use with the bubble tube exactly level with the bottom of the stock or straight edge 18.- It will of course be understood that the thumb screws 15 are adjusted to tilt the spirit level proper relative to the straight edge or stock 18 for setting the level as above described, and for accuracy,the above operation can be repeated.

After the level has been set for use in this manner, and it is desired to obtain any rise or fall, the percent of which can be regulated by the length of the straight edge 18. and the height one end of the level is raised or lowered, such end of the level or the stock 18 1s lowered or raised the desired amount, and then the bubble is centered again in the tube 6 by adjusting the screws 15. For Xample: if a fall of one inch per foot is desired, a stock ten feet long is used and one end thereof is lowered ten inches. The bubble is then centered in the tube 6 by adjustment of the screws 15, and the straight edge will be adjusted withrespect to the spirit level proper to correspond with an inclination of one inch to one foot. I

To obtain a level line to a-distant point, as from one corner of a building to another, the level is placed on the point to be leveled from, with the sight pieces attached and with the front or peep sight piece 19 farthest from the point to be leveled. The sight pieces are then used to sight from the point to be leveled from to the point to be leveled, allowance being made for the height of the sights above the base of the level. Naturally, in this use of the instrument, the spirit level proper is set in level condition as first above described.

Should it be desired to obtain a distant point on an incline or on a grade, the percent of rise or fall is obtained as explained above. T he ends of the stock or straight edge are then fixed to maintain said stock or straight edge at the proper inclination and the spirit level proper its base are detached from the stock or straight edge and the spirit level proper is set in a level condition with respect to the base bar 12 as first described above. I

The spirit level proper is then again attached to the stock or straight edge by fastening the base bar 12 thereon, after which the distant point can be obtainedby sighting through the sight pieces.

In view of the above it will be seen that I have provided a very simple and efficient single unit or instrument by means of which the several desired operations may be carried out with speed and accuracy.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the in vention as claimed.

hat I claim as new is:

1. In a grading level, the combination with a straight edge, of a base bar secured upon said straight edge and having upstanding ears intermediate its ends, a spirit level proper includinga bubble tube holder pivoted intermediate its endsbetween said ears and upon a transverse horizontal axis for longitudinal tilting .a djustnient, adjusting screws threaded through the ends of said bubble tube holder and bearing upon said base bar for use in tiltably adjusting said bubble tube holder, said bubble tube holder comprising an elongated hollow body portion having an arcua te top wall provided with a longitudinal slot, 7 and an elongated arcu-ate bubble tube mounted on said wall of the holder and provided with a series of transverse graduations from end to end exposed through said slot.

2. In a grading level, an elongated bubble tube holder, sight pieces detachably fitted over and secured against the ends of said bubble tube holder, saidsight pieces comprising vertically elongated plates provided attheir upper ends with sightin means and formed with spaced horizontal anges at their lower slot.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature;

RALPH G. NEWSOME. 

